By Bawa Musah
The Presidential Candidate of the Progressive Alliance for Ghana (PAG), Dr John Enyonam Kpikpi, has described the proposed salary increases for public sector workers as woefully inadequate and pitiful, arguing that the current remuneration arrangements reflect a growing disparity between ordinary workers and political office holders.
He said the level of increases offered to public sector employees must be assessed against the salaries, allowances and benefits enjoyed by Members of Parliament and other government officials, insisting that the country could not continue to maintain what he described as two different standards of living for those who govern and those who serve the public.
In a interview with the media on the recent base pay negotiations, Dr Kpikpi said workers who faithfully contribute to the country’s development deserved better compensation for their labour, particularly when compared with the benefits political office holders have approved for themselves.
He argued that the disparity in remuneration had become a matter of concern, suggesting that some political office holders enjoyed benefits estimated to be about ten times what ordinary public sector workers received.
“The current increments being given to public sector workers, I would think, are woefully inadequate and rather pitiful. It just shows the ongoing disregard of those who go about their duties daily, faithfully serving this country. We must always connect that with what the ruling class is offering themselves. In fact, sometimes what they are offering themselves is about ten times what they are offering these public sector workers, and this somewhere must stop,” he said.
On the remuneration of political office holders, Dr Kpikpi called for a review of the existing arrangements under Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution, which provides for the determination of salaries and benefits for specified public office holders.
He maintained that the remuneration of parliamentarians and other government officials should not be treated separately from the economic realities confronting public sector workers, arguing that political leadership must be guided by sacrifice and a commitment to improving the living conditions of citizens.
According to him, the existing disparity must be brought into the public domain for serious national discussion, with office holders encouraged to reconsider whether the differences in their earnings and benefits are justifiable.
“We must make every effort to begin to link what public sector workers are paid with what parliamentarians and other government officials have actually given themselves to enjoy and live on. We can’t have two different classes in this country. The ruling class must understand that they are servants, and they must go in with a heart and willingness to offer sacrificial service like everybody else,” he stated.
Dr Kpikpi further proposed that public sector workers should receive a more substantial salary adjustment, suggesting that negotiations should begin from a 20 per cent increment, although he cautioned that the final figure would have to be informed by the country’s financial position.
He said he was reluctant to prescribe a definitive percentage without a proper assessment of available public resources but maintained that the current increases of nine and 10 per cent did not adequately demonstrate commitment to improving workers’ welfare.
The PAG flagbearer also outlined a different approach his party intends to pursue if elected into government, saying its economic policy would focus on wealth creation and ensuring that workers directly benefit from the country’s growing prosperity.
He explained that rather than relying solely on periodic salary adjustments or attempting to redistribute limited resources, a PAG government would prioritise creating wealth across the economy and channel part of the resulting gains towards improving workers’ remuneration and living conditions.
Dr Kpikpi said public sector employees would be among the first beneficiaries of the wealth creation agenda, stressing that his party wanted workers to enjoy the benefits of their labour through improved salaries and better economic opportunities.
“Our heart and interest is to bring prosperity to businesses. So we would find a way to really begin to line up salaries to be in conformity with the wealth we are creating. When we come, we are going to find ways of creating so much wealth in this country, and as it begins to come in, we will be passing it on generously to workers. The money has come, and we will use it to live and share it with workers as we go along. So workers are going to have a good time. Our eyes are on them. Our heart is for them. We want them to experience the benefits of their labour,” he said.
